High-Resolution Vessel Monitoring of Small-Scale Fisheries in Kenya
Spatial and Temporal Characterization Using Pelagic Data Systems for Sustainable Management
Executive Summary
This study presents comprehensive vessel monitoring analysis from Kenya’s small-scale fisheries using 150 solar-powered Pelagic Data Systems (PDS) deployed across 28 Beach Management Units in five coastal counties. Analysis of 46,625 high-resolution tracking records reveals critical patterns: fishing hotspots concentrated in specific grid cells, seasonal trends in effort distribution, resource conflict zones with high vessel overlap, and vessel activity coefficients showing fleet utilization patterns. These findings provide essential evidence for marine spatial planning, adaptive management, and inclusive governance within Kenya’s Blue Economy framework.
Fleet Overview & Vessel Activity Coefficient
46,625 Position Records
83 Vessels Tracked
1159 Fishing Trips
9.3 Avg Trip Duration (hrs)
14 Trips per Vessel
1.8 Daily Fleet Activity
Spatial Analysis: Fishing Hotspots & Intensity
🎯 Hotspot Analysis Results
- 383 critical and major hotspots identified
- Top 5% of areas account for 65.7% of total fishing effort
- Maximum concentration: 18 hours in a single grid cell
- Average vessels per hotspot: 2.5
Resource Conflict Analysis & Vessel Interactions
⚠️ Resource Conflict Analysis
- 56 total conflict events recorded
- Maximum 3 vessels observed in single grid cell
- NaN average vessels in high-risk zones